OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - OCTOBER 30: Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 30, 2024 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images Six years ago I saw a photo of Donald Sutherland and thought, “Man, he looks a lot like Gregg Popovich.” Thought it would make a good Open Thread, so I wrote it up as: Who would play Gregg Popovich in a Spurs biopic? I never, ever, in a million years thought to myself “Jesse Eisenberg is the perfect choice.” Yet, the Oscar nominee has expressed an interest in portraying the greatest coach in NBA history. Jesse Eisenberg says his dream role is NBA coaching legend Gregg Popovich, calling the Spurs icon “the most fascinating person on the planet.” https://t.co/3Pyvmst9gT pic.twitter.com/59XZi3yXQp— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews) July 6, 2026 “I just find him to be the most fascinating person on the planet,” Eisenberg stated. “Here’s this tough coach who cries sometimes and talks about the plight of America, and yet he’s also this terrifying figure who can be so mean to journalists. People like that are fascinating because, on the one hand, they’re known to be very nasty, and on the other hand they’re these bleeding hearts.” Admittedly, Eisenberg believes he would be “low on the list” for consideration of the role if one were to ever materialize. Okay, so Eisenberg is notn the first choice to portray Pop. Who could be? Austin restauranteur Gerald Stone is a spitting image. But if a true actor is dessired, the best option is Clive Owen. Owen, known for his dashing good looks, has gone gray as of late. His look in the top photo melded with the beard in the lower shot with a little Hollywood magic supplies a spitting image of the iconic coach. Can the English actor pull off Pop’s tone and timbre? We’ll have to cast and see. How about other NBA coaches? I still contend Jim Carrey is a dead ringer for Rick Carlisle. Are there any other NBA Coaches who have a an actor on deck awaiting the casting call? I took a break from writing this and now must go off road fr0m basketball to say the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino could only be played by Russell Crowe. Have some fun with this today. Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here. Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language. ...read more read less